The political landscape in New Jersey is heating up with the state’s first lady launching a bid for U.S. Senate, and a former governor eying a political comeback as a mayor. As a result, an array of high-profile candidates are gearing up for a contentious campaign cycle.
With the state’s senior U.S. senator and his wife facing bribery charges, their son, a first-term member of Congress, is also fighting to retain his seat. This has further heightened the intensity of the political climate. The upcoming trial has added to the already raucous and entertaining nature of New Jersey’s campaign cycles, with a plethora of atypical candidates running under extraordinary circumstances.
According to Patrick Murray, Monmouth University’s director of polling, the current cycle is shaping up to be especially unique. The sheer volume of viable candidates and contested races is at an all-time high, as noted by Francis J. Giantomasi, an influential Democratic lawyer.
The early intensity of the upcoming election has prompted mixed reactions from experts. Some, like Ashley Koning, director of Rutgers University’s polling center, feel like the political environment is spinning out of control. On the other hand, Rob Horowitz, a political strategist, believes that the high number of competitive races will ultimately benefit challengers.
Multiple candidates from both parties have already declared their intention to run for governor, despite the election being more than a year and a half away. This includes the first Republican candidate, Jon Bramnick, whose campaign may test the influence of the right wing in the state’s party agenda.
New Jersey’s U.S. Senate race is equally contested, with four Democratic candidates already announced. Despite facing dismal poll numbers, Senator Robert Menendez has not ruled out seeking re-election.
The upcoming election also features a bid by former Governor Jim McGreevey, who resigned from politics in 2004 following revelations about his personal life. With numerous competitive primaries and unusual circumstances, candidates are scrambling to be heard in an increasingly crowded field.
The frenetic pace of the campaign season is likely to intensify, according to Karen J. Kessler, a public relations executive. As such, New Jersey’s political landscape is set to remain a hotbed of activity and competition in the months to come.